| Situated in Idaho's
southwest corner, the appealing capital city of Boise (population
200,000) sits on a high plain (elevation 2,700 feet) along the
Boise River. With mountains to the east, it is a scenic city and
got its start as a fort, first built by the Hudson Bay Company in
the 1830s, and then after being abandoned, re-built by the U.S.
Army during the Civil War. Today its residents enjoy a good mix of
older and newer neighborhoods, an abundance of outdoor recreation
venues and an attractive downtown with a pedestrian-friendly
section. The cost of living is 3% above the national average, and the
median home price is $195,000. The crime rate meets the
national average, and of the population, roughly 32% is age 45 or
better.
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Boise often lands on "best
places to live" lists because it offers a high quality of life
at a fairly affordable price. Its size, lack of pretension and unhurried
Western pace attract people seeking city amenities without city
hassles, and its location attracts outdoor adventurers. Fishing,
camping, bicycling, skiing and hiking are favorite activities, and
some outstanding venues for each are found in the Rocky Mountains
just 20 minutes east of downtown. The Boise River is a hotspot for
kayakers, tubers and rafters, and the Boise River Greenbelt connects
the city's pretty riverside parks.
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And although it cannot compare with much larger
cities, Boise has a lively arts and cultural scene with a good
selection of museums, music festivals (including the annual Gene
Harris Jazz Festival) and theater groups (such as the Boise
Little Theater and the Idaho Shakespeare Festival). Opera Idaho,
the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra and touring Broadway shows
perform at the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts
throughout the year. Residents also enjoy a monthly Gallery Walk
and the Capital City Public Market, a seasonal farmers' market.
Boise Public Library has public access computers, free Internet
wifi and a homebound book program.
The downtown, while competing with suburban
shopping areas, has a good selection of restaurants and shops
and hosts events and festivals. Nightlife is surprisingly
robust, and eateries range from old fashioned diners to chic,
high-end restaurants. Boise Towne Square Mall is the state's
largest shopping venue and has just about anything anyone needs
(Macy's, an Apple store, Dillards, Eddie Bauer, etc.).
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Click Arrow to Tour Boise, Idaho |
Public transportation is provided by Valley Regional Transit
(Valley Ride) which has fourteen routes in and around Boise.
Single rides are $1 (anyone over age 65 rides for 50 cents). For
automobile owners, I-84 runs through the city and connects it to
Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon. Boise Airport is
serviced by Delta and United and several other major carriers.
The city's park and recreation department has programs for
people age 55+, and the Boise Senior Activities Center has a
good menu of activities and services that includes health
screenings, computer classes, legal assistance, congregate noon
meals, tax assistance and refresher driving courses.
Boise has a handful of hospitals and medical centers, but
two, St. Luke's Boise Medical Center (520 beds) and St.
Alphonsus Regional Medical Center (354 beds), provide most of
the care. Both accept Medicare and Medicaid patients, meet or
exceed national averages in nearly all specialties and have
national awards for both clinical and patient safety excellence.
The climate is semi-arid with four seasons. Summer days are
hot and dry with temperatures in the high- 90s; summer evenings
are considerably cooler. Winters are cold with temperatures in
the single digits, teens and 20s and 3 to 5 inches or so of snow
each month. Humidity starts out at around 70% in the mornings
and drops to as low as 20% by afternoon. The sun shines 210 days
of the year. The water quality is below the national average,
and the air quality, due to some severe temperature inversions,
is also below the national average.
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